By Lisa Manterfield
I came across a copy of Whole Living magazine lately. I found the articles interesting and it’s one of the few women’s magazines I’ve found that isn’t focused on children. Refreshing.
What’s also refreshing is that, along with their Mission Statement, they also post their Ten Tenets of Whole Living. You can read them here:
These are a couple of personal favorites:
#1 Happiness is a choice. Make that choice today and every day.
I’ve spent a good chunk of the past few years feeling sorry for myself because I can’t have children. But I’ve come to appreciate the life I am able to have because of my childlessness. I’m pretty happy with this life and, if the opportunity presented itself to become a mother, I am no longer sure I would take it.
#5 Laugh at yourself. You’re funny.
Never a truer word spoken. It’s so easy to take yourself oh so seriously, but really life is pretty ridiculous. Case in point: I married a man who couldn’t have children. We spent five years trying to fix that, only to discover that I was infertile. Not funny at the time, but the irony isn’t lost on me now.
#9 It’s never too late to take the first step toward your aspirations.
When she was in her 60’s, my mum graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science and learned to drive. Anyone who tells you you’re too old to follow your dreams deserves a poke in the eye.
What are some of your tenets, rules that you choose to live by?
I loved “Whole Living”!! and was sad it went out of business. I agree about it not being so family oriented. I got a year of “Family Circle” magazine for some unknown reason and at times I found it almost offensive it was so…well..family oriented. The lifestyle seemed incredibly foreign to me but made me think that if things had been different I would have been all over it.
I am trying to think of new aspirations: maybe trying to work in Ireland for a year or more…..and my grief counselor told me years ago it was good that I laughed at myself. I am funny!
I loved the three you have chosen.
I love this one a lot too: “Stay connected to the natural world. It will feed your soul.”
I know that what I’m going to rant about,has nothing to do with today’s post,but I am feeling so down,and needed to talk with some ladies that will understand (I hope).
Like many people today,I’m quite addicted to social media.My favorites are Youtube,Instagram and Snapchat.I don’t post very much myself,but follow tons of people.Like a real weirdo,I get quite attached to some of the people I follow,even if I really don’t know them and their lives are completely different to mine.
What breaks my heart,is watching vloggers and their lives for months (or in some cases,years),and then having to instantly unfollow and basically freeze any mention of them out,as soon as they announce they are pregnant.
Just today I’ve unfollowed one of my favorite vloggers.She and her husband were supposedly struggling with infertility,and just last week she was talking about how she needed surgeries,etc.Now this morning she announces that she’s actually pregnant.
Now I don’t know this woman in real life at all,but still, I feel kind of betrayed and annoyed and sad.
I am absolutely ridiculous.I will have to do #5 and laugh at myself a whole lot.
The thing with social media sites is that people tend to post all that is great. We only see these selections of life. I, for example, have tons of horrible pictures… but will only ever show the ones I look great in. I have/am trying to cut back a lot on the time I spend on these sites… and trying to up the ante on real life contact… unless the social media sites are about learning about something, rather than living vicariously. I am hooked on pinterest. All that said, I too have found it especially tough when someone who says they never want kids, or are not sure if they want kids, suddenly has them…. It just highlights the unfairness of it all.
If you have an opportunity, I really suggest doing a complete unplug. My husband and I vacationed on the Rocky Mountain Front for a week last year and while they did have internet if you wanted, it was kind of a hassle and my cell provider did not work well. The only real time I checked in was when we made a 25 mile drive in to town and even then it was more for work and only took about half an hour. It was so refreshing and since then I have really found my social media use to be down and that is a good thing. FB, while a great way to stay in touch or find someone, was really starting to get on my nerves and now with the silly season of an election coming into full swing, I feel so much better just not being there at all. I highly recommend it.
I definitely want to do a cleanse soon.My job situation is changing in a month or so,where I will have little to zero internet access.It will be the perfect way to cut myself loose from all the unwanted hubbub,since I mostly spend my time on the internet for my work and at work.At home,not so much.
I like the three you chose. Foolishly I looked at the others, and went, “ugh!”
I’m going to have to think about my life rules … and get back to you!